Space Development Agency’s Post

We're always looking up-- but we never forget the ground! Bringing things down to earth is SDA’s critical Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture ground segment. A critical element of any space architecture, especially the #PWSA. The PWSA ground segment provides continuous, 24/7 operational support to the PWSA space segment and is operated by SDA’s two Operation Centers located in Grand Forks, ND and Redstone Arsenal, Ala. Additionally, the PWSA ground segment includes the necessary hardware and software framework to host battle management command, control, communications (#BMC3) functionality for mission-specific processing, and execution of on-orbit and on-the-ground applications. To read more on SDAs ground segment check out the new factsheet on our SDA Resources webpage here: https://lnkd.in/ggX8D7HP You can also follow our Tranche 3 planning notifications for possible opportunities surrounding PWSA Enterprise Ground efforts in fiscal year 2025 and beyond. #SemperCitius #Satellies #GrandForks #RedstoneArsenal #Defense

SDA is seeking questions, white papers, and subsequent invited proposals through a new broad agency announcement for battle management apps for the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (#PWSA). These BMC3 applications (#BMC3App) will add capability both within the PWSA tranches and as updates between tranches. SDA specifically seeks applications and services to support new and existing concepts of operation (CONOPS), knowledge gaps, system designs, key technologies, and/or risk reduction prototypes that enhance mission capability for defined tranches of PWSA capability layers, provide new capabilities addressing emerging or evolving warfighters needs, and provide enhanced Link-16 capability from space vehicles. Questions will be answered upon receipt. White papers are strongly encouraged and due by June 14, 2024. The BAA remains open through May 19, 2025. Get the details at https://lnkd.in/egKDRfkh #BMC3 #SemperCitius #Space #Defense #Satellites #Apps

SDA’s approach to transparency and innovation through initiatives like the Technology Roadmap and Tranche 3 notice highlights how collaboration between government and industry can drive meaningful advancements. By providing clear acquisition timelines and prioritizing warfighter needs, SDA is setting a standard for how space architecture can evolve rapidly without compromising affordability or capability. It’s exciting to see this level of forward-thinking in the space and defense community, where every decision impacts not just technology but mission success. #SemperCitius #SpaceInnovation #DefenseTech

SDA’s Technology Roadmap outlines the envisioned technological progress and architectural evolution of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (#PWSA). Driven by the needs of the warfighter, the technology roadmap is a living document that highlights some of the key technologies guiding the development of and increasing the capability delivered by the PWSA. SDA’s Technology Roadmap provides transparency to #industry to allow for planning ahead, which enables the PWSA to continue to maximize affordability, deliver capability and harness the power of commercial industry to the benefit of the warfighter. SDA has recently done this is by releasing our Tranche 3 notice to industry, providing a top-level acquisition timeline to permit near- and long-range industry planning. For more on what SDA is up to, check out our webpage at https://www.sda.mil/ #SemperCitius #Space #Satellites #Defense #SDADelivers2024

In the realm of military and government networks, ensuring security and reliability is crucial. The optimal approach to fortifying these networks for defense capabilities is through the implementation of integrated managed services driven by automation. As we peer into the future, particularly beyond 2024, we anticipate a notable increase in efforts directed towards the development and deployment of multi-transport networks. To delve deeper into this topic, you can explore the article here: https://okt.to/LklGVR #Network #Innovation #Technology #ManagedServices #Connectivity

🌟 Top 10 U.S. Government Contractors 2024 🌟 Navigating the U.S. government contracting landscape is crucial for agencies and contractors alike. Here are the top players leading the charge this year: Lockheed Martin - The largest contractor, specializing in defense technologies with over $64 billion in revenue. RTX (formerly Raytheon Technologies) - A key player in missile defense and cybersecurity, reporting over $40 billion. Northrop Grumman - Known for its contributions to space exploration and defense systems, with $35 billion in revenue. General Dynamics - Provides a wide range of products, including combat vehicles and IT solutions. Boeing - Significant in aviation and defense, continuing to innovate in various sectors. L3Harris Technologies - Focused on communication and electronic warfare solutions. HII - The largest military shipbuilding company, crucial for naval fleet support. Leidos - Specializes in IT modernization and cybersecurity across multiple sectors. Booz Allen Hamilton - A leader in digital transformation and data analytics for defense and security. Amentum - Focuses on defense, energy, and environmental solutions, recently going public. For more insights into these contractors and the evolving GovCon landscape, don’t miss the 2025 Defense R&D Summit on January 23!

The Department of Defence should be a dream customer - it pays on time, has large budgets, and structures tenders and responses really well. And, for many of us, a sense of patriotism in working for the defence of the nation. But then it serves up this nonsense ... It spent $90m on defining the capabilities and running the tender process for JP9102 - a major space communications project. But Defence has changed its mind. The whole purpose of CASG is to correctly identify and scope capabilities and to acquire them - it's literally the name on the tin. A reasonable estimate is that the bidders spent $90m themselves building teams to respond to this request, and LM and its partners would have spent more as the "winner", above and beyond payments by Defence. For small Australian teaming partners, this behaviour by their sole customer is a huge drain. I don't know Michael Cratt, but today, let's just note that he's spent $3m, will get nothing back for it, and has to (in public) suck it up as he can't dump his only customer. "According to head of Air Defence and Space Systems Air Vice-Marshal David Scheul, Defence spent more than $90 million of the approved $150 million under the IIP on the tender process with Lockheed Martin. However, only a small amount of funding flowed to the multinational for “offer definition and improvement activity”. A revised tender was received by Defence on March 8 and was expected to get second pass approval in Q4 of 2025. No contract had been signed with Lockheed Martin for the delivery of the satellites yet, according to Mr Deeble. Of the money spent, $40 million went to the CASG, which was running the tender process, and another $40 million went to the capability manager at the Joint Capabilities Group. About $3 million was also spent at each of the Defence Digital Group, the Strategy, Policy and Industry Group and the Defence Science and Technology Group. A further $4 million was spent through the Security and Estate Group. Defence officials said Lockheed Martin had made a “considerable investment” in its JP9102 participation, although they were not sure how much the 12 Australian small to medium-sized businesses a part of Lockheed’s proposed consortium had invested. Ground station terminal supplier Av-Comm’s chief executive Michael Cratt on Monday said the company “spent over $3 million preparing the organisation to an acceptable level for Defence” and had purchased new office space in anticipation of hiring about 50 additional staff. “Despite this latest setback faced by our industry, we are determined to not give up. Av–Comm will continue to strive for fair and responsible inclusion of our domestic industry in the global space landscape,” Mr Cratt said.

There are important lessons that Governments can learn from this. Expecting commercial companies to absorb cost costs governments more in the long run.

But wait…there’s more! If you’ve been keeping an eye on our acquisition plans for Tranche 3 of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (#PWSA), we’re not quite done! SDA expects to release Tranche 3 Integration solicitations in the first quarter of fiscal year 2025 to allow for forecasting and #industry planning. Additionally, SDA is contemplating a PWSA Enterprise Ground effort which will be competed in the future. SDA will provide an updated announcement when more details are available. In the meantime, more detailed info about Tranche 3 acquisition opportunities is available upon request in a Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) package. Instructions for requesting the CUI information can be found on Sam.gov here: https://lnkd.in/eWySv7ad #SemperCitius #Defense #Satellites #opportunities

Interested in learning more about Model Based Systems Engineering? Come discuss some of the solutions Critical Frequency Design has developed for the Navy at Sea Air Space 2024 in the STP Small Business section. Dave Wood can discuss some innovations with Tactical Datalink Communications. #seaairspace2024 #SolutionsAtTheSpeedofLight #DigitalEngineering